by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA---Filipino Kim Yutangco Zafra pocketed the runner-up honors in the Tallinna MK kiirturniiride sari KEVAD`2023 (VIII etapp) A Chess Championship held at the Paul Keres Chess House in Tallinn, Estonia on Saturday, May 6, 2023.
The Quezon City native Zafra collected 5.5 points on account of five wins, one draw and one loss in seven outings.

Zafra scored victories over Andreas Ruu of Estonia in the first round, Jonathan Mendoza of Guatemala in the second round, Pjotr Nikitin of Estonia in the fourth round, Abhishek Choudhary of Estonia in the sixth and penultimate round, Marina Levchenko of Estonia in the seventh and final round.
He split the points with Mikk Kaarel Oim of Estonia in the third round. His only setbacks at the hands of eventual champion Grandmaster Igor Shvyrjov of Estonia in the fifth round.
GM Shvyrjov defeated compatriot Jon Hecht in the last round to secure the title with perfect 7.0 points in this 15 minutes plus three seconds increment rapid time control format.
"I would like to dedicate my victory to my countrymen. It's an honor to represent our country. Hope it can inspire my fellow Filipinos especially the young ones with my latest victory," said Europed based Zafra.
"Honestly I never played for almost 3 months not until last night in chess.com," added Zafra, one of the board of directors of Bayanihan Chess Club.
Zafra is set to compete in the Nõmme Open kiirmales chess championship to be held on May 13 at the Nomme Cultural Center in Tallinn Estonia.-Marlon Bernardino-
Photo shows Filipino Kim Yutangco Zafra (right) and Estonian Grandmaster Igor Shvyrjov
Final Standings: (Seven Round Swiss System)
7.0 points---GM Igor Shvyrjov (Estonia)
5.5 points---Kim Yutangco Zafra (Philippines)
5.0 points---Marina Levchenko (Estonia), WFM Sofia Blokhin (Estonia), Mikhail Cherentsov (Estonia),  Artem Arikov (Estonia)
4.5 points--- Jon Hecht (Estonia),Mikk Kaarel  Oim (Estonia),  Pjotr Nikitin (Estonia), Abhishek Choudhary (Estonia)